Clint Frazier credits girlfriend for turnaround in birthday Instagram post

Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier credited his new girlfriend for helping him reach his potential in a new IG post.

By any metric, Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier was a different man in 2020.

The defense was so next-level it got him a freaking Gold Glove nomination after he almost played himself out of MLB consideration in 2019. His bat? Well, that was a given, but the quick-whip swing came to play in ’20; Frazier bashed eight homers with a .394 OBP, and maintained his production with runners in scoring position, hitting .310.

Most importantly, though, Frazier seemed like a different clubhouse presence. Still the exact right amount of self-assuredness at the plate and with teammates (don’t get us wrong, that’s good), he no longer came off as petulant and aloof, and never, say, wandered away from a media session just because he didn’t like his own performance. 2019 Frazier doesn’t get caught dead publicly “beefing” with Brett Gardner over a turtleneck, we don’t think.

On Wednesday, Frazier acknowledged the change in his persona with a cheeky nod to his growth in the caption of his Instagram post in honor of his girlfriend’s birthday. He wished Kaylee Gambadoro a good one, but specifically gave her props for turning him “from New York’s bad boy to now New York’s best behaved.”

The kid cleans up nice, we have to admit.

Frazier’s quirky side is what makes him so lovable, unique and a joy to root for, from sneaker collecting to his funky hairstyle. But there’s no doubt that some bristled at what he brought to the Bronx — prior to 2020, of course.

Whether his girlfriend was the driving force in this change or not is for Frazier to know and for us to take his word on. But if he believes she allowed him to become a man, we’re right there with him.

Also on board with the assertion? Manager Aaron Boone, who dropped a like on the post.

OK, so maybe it’s legit then.

Pending a wild Francisco Lindor trade of some kind, it seems Frazier will be in left field for most of 2021, mashing homers with reckless abandon.

Don’t get us wrong: the “old” Clint Frazier was a real interesting guy. But we’ll take the 2020 version for the next several years, thank you very much.

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